Bungeoppang vs Hotteok: What’s Inside, and Which to Try?
Bungeoppang is shaped like a fish, but the familiar sweet version is not filled with fish. Its classic filling is sweet red bean paste; custard is another option. Choose it if you want a filled pastry, or try hotteok for a round pancake with warm sugar filling inside.
The choice at a stall comes down to the filling you want. This guide helps you recognize the two snacks, choose your first one and ask for it in Korean.
Jump to: Choose a snack · The fish-shaped pastry · Your first order
Bungeoppang or hotteok: choose by the filling
| Snack | What you are choosing | A useful first pick if… |
|---|---|---|
| Bungeoppang 붕어빵 | A fish-shaped pastry baked in a mold, traditionally with sweet red bean paste; other fillings may be offered. | You want to try red bean, or prefer custard when it is on the menu. |
| Hotteok 호떡 | A filled pancake pressed and fried, with sugar that melts inside. | You want a chewy pancake with a sweet center. |
Why does bungeoppang look like a fish?
The name combines bungeo, a crucian carp, with ppang, bread. The fish refers to the shape. Korea.net’s explanation of bungeoppang explicitly distinguishes the name from what is inside.
The mold gives the pastry its outline and surface detail. The Korea Tourism Organization describes a crisp shell, tender dough and sweet red bean filling in its fish-shaped bun guide. You may also find custard, chocolate or savory variations, so check the menu rather than assuming two identical-looking pastries have the same center.
For a first try, our suggestion is red bean if that filling interests you. If you would rather begin with custard, choose it when offered. Start with the filling you actually want to eat.
Hotteok puts the sweetness inside the pancake
If “pancake” makes you picture a breakfast stack with syrup poured over it, change that picture here. In a sweet hotteok, the filling is enclosed in the dough. KTO’s hotteok description explains how sugar-filled dough is pressed and fried, leaving molten sugar inside a chewy pancake.
Brown sugar, cinnamon and nuts appear in KTO’s winter street-food comparison. Recipes and fillings vary, so use that as an introduction, then look at the seller’s actual version. A “honey-filled” English label does not by itself establish that the recipe contains honey: KTO also describes the melted brown sugar as resembling it.
Use one sentence for your first order
You can keep the order short. Choose the snack or point to the option you want, then ask for one:
| What you want | Say or show this | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Bungeoppang | 붕어빵 한 개 주세요. | One bungeoppang, please. |
| Hotteok | 호떡 한 개 주세요. | One hotteok, please. |
| The option you are pointing to | 이거 한 개 주세요. | One of these, please. |
한 개 means one item, and 주세요 makes the request polite. These are our composed ordering examples; the National Institute of Korean Language explains the single-item counter 개 and the verb 주다, to give. If several fillings are listed, point to the one you want before using the sentence.
Check the displayed price and how many pieces the order includes before paying. Ask about the ingredients if they matter to your choice; the shape and snack name do not give you the complete recipe.
A small first order is enough
Start with one snack if the seller offers that quantity. Let a freshly cooked pastry cool before biting into the center: Maangchi’s bungeoppang recipe points out that the filling can be especially hot.
Both snacks are associated with Korea’s cold-weather street food. Availability depends on the seller and season. Check a shop’s current menu and opening information when planning a visit.
For a drink at your next stop, use our Korean café ordering guide. It explains Americano, latte and non-coffee choices, then shows how to ask for hot or iced and for here or to go.
Prepared by Kpop From Seoul for first-time readers and visitors. Official food descriptions, language references and photograph permissions checked October 9, 2026. The first-pick suggestions are editorial recommendations. The photographs illustrate the snacks’ shapes; their archival dates and credits appear underneath.
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